Device for handling cups and the like



g M. H. EATON DEVICE FOR HANDLING CUPS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vlhATT RN YE- M. H. EATON DEVICE FOR HANDLING CUPS AND THE LIKE Filed J y19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MWHEE;

EPITEI Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

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MALCOLM n. EATON, or Bn-ooKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, Ass xenon or ONE-THIRDTO EZRA 53. EA)

art-"n QNE-THIRD To onanr ns r. EATON, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR HANDLING CUZS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed July 19, 1924.

This invention has for its general object to provide an applianceforconveniently and safely handling china cups and similar utensils ofirregular shape and fragile character in restaurants and the like wheresuch articles are used in considerable numbers. In large establishmentsof this kind, and particularly at lunch counters where the volume oftrade is heavy and where quick service is required, the handling ofchina cups pre sents a troublesome problem, due to the irregular shapeoccasioned by their handles, which prevents their being stacked. ornested in the manner employed with other crockery, so that the spacerequired for their accommodation and the labor involved in handling themin the various operations incidental to their use are out of proportionto the returns from such use, while the item of breakage is relativelyhigh unless china ware of an objectionably heavy and coarse grade isemployed. The present invention has, therefore, for its more particularobject to provide a device in the nature of a container in which chinacups'and the like in quantities may be transported, washed, and securelyretained againstvbreakage at all times when not in actual use, fromwhich they may be conveniently supplied as required for service, and towhich they may be immediately returned after use, said device being ofinexpensive construction and of such a character as to permit the readypresentation of the cups in either upright or inverted position andbeing also in the nature of a unit any number of which may be employed,as required, in compactly stacked relationship.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with meanswhereby the latter may be carried into effect, will best be understoodfrom the following description of one form or embodiment thereofillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the cont ainers.

Fig. 2 is a simplified or diagrammatic plan view of the top only of thecontainer, the positions of the cups being indicated in dotted lines. V

Fig. 3 is a side elevation'of a plurality of similar containers disposedin superposed relationship, the cups therein being shown in dottedllilQ-Sr Serial No. 727,037.

Fig. l is a sectional view, taken substan' tially on the line 4-4, Figs.1 and 2, of two containers one of which is inverted upon the other, thecups being shown in full.

The device embodyin the invention as soldered or welded together to forma unitary structure. Said frame, which is of symmetrical form in plan,comprises upright side walls which completely surround the container, abottom which is supported above the lower edges of, the side walls so asto leave an unobstructed space beneath the same, and which is adapted tosupport the cups or other articles, and an open topwliich is dividedinto a plurality of compartments each of an outline correspondinggenerally to the outline of the cups, including-tlie'handles, and whichcompartments are adapted to hold the cups in spaced relationship so asto prevent contact and consequent breakage thereof. r

The side walls, which, as above stated, completely surround the device,comprise continuous circumferential members spaced and connectedatintervalsby upright m'em bers'lO, said circumferentialmembers includinga bottom member 11 defining thelower edges of the walls, an intermediatemember 12 which supports the bottom, an upper member 13 which carriesthe wire partitions forming the compartments, and preferably also a topmember 14L which defines the upper edges of the walls, said membersbeing preferably all ofthe same form and dimensions, so that a pluralityof containers or frames may be readily superposed and supported one uponthe other with the bottoinmember 11 ofone frame resting upon the topmember 141. of the frame immediately below, as shown in Fig. 3.

The top of the frame, as above referred to, is divided into a pluralityof compartments by partitions in the form of curved wires 15 which aresupported adjacent the edges of the frame bythecircumferential wallmember 13 andat intermediatepjoirits fror n -the bottom (hereinafter dob'dl by upright l memlfiers' 16,: suitable "mg mem bers 17 being, ifdesired, provided where necessary. Each of the compartments thus formedis of an outline substantially pearshaped corresponding generally to theoutline of the cups 18 to be received therein, being generally ofcircular form and of a diameter slightly greater than the maximumdiameter of the cups, and having lateral or radial enlargements toreceive the handles 19 of said cups. The form of the severalcompartments, as well as their relative arrangement. is clearly shown inFig. 2 from which it will be seen that said compartments are disposed inoverlapping or interfitted relationship with respect to each other butin symmetrical relationship with respect to the container as a whole. aswill be seen by reference to the axial lines AB and CD on said figure.Theoverlapping interfitting relationship of the compartments providesfor a compact arrangement of the cups, permitting a maximum number to bereceived within a minimum space. while the symmetrical relationshippermits two of the containers or frames to be inverted one upon theother in such a manner as to cause the compartments of the two frames toregister with each other and to receive the cups one from the other fora purpose hereinafter explained.

The bottom comprises a reticulated structure ofintersecting wires 20supported by the circumferential wall member 12 and preferably providedunder the several compartments with slightly raised members 21 adaptedto enter the slightly concaved bottoms of the cups when the latter arein up right position to centre the same and assist in the spacingthereof. The position of the bottom with respect to the top is such asto support the cups with approximately onehalf of each cup receivedwithin its respective compartment and with the other half projectingtherefrom, so as to permit their ready removal from the compartments. 7

Prior to their use in service, the cups are stored in the severalcompartments,- being preferably placed in inverted position therein, asindicated in Fig. 3, in order to preserve their cleanliness. As manyframes or containers as desired may besupported in superposedpositionone upon the other, as shown in said figure, the projectingportions of the cups of a lower frame being received within theunobstructed space beneath the bottom of the frame immediately above,and

the cups of the topmost frame being in position for removal as requiredin service. As each frame is emptied, it may be removed from the top ofthe stack, thus exposing the cups in the frame immediately below, andmay be placed at one side to receive the cups after use. As the usedcups contain more or less residual material, they are placed in uprightposit-ion in'the frames, and as each frame is filled another may besuperposed upon it to receive additional cups, the upper portions of thecups of the lower frame be ing received in the lower portion of asuperposed frame, as above explained. The frames of used cups may becarried singly or in stacks to the dishwasher. and -as so carried theindividual cups are held in spaced relationship against breakage. Theframes with their upright cups may then be immersed in the washing tank,and as each frame of cups is removed another frame may be placed ininverted position thereover, shown in Fig. 4c, the upper portions of thecups in the lower frame being received in the several compartments ofthe upper frame, and the two frames thereupon inverted together,whereupon the cups will be received in inverted position in the secondframe so as to drain therein. The several frames with the inverted cupstherein may then be returned to the place of use and stacked insuperposed position, as shown in Fig. 3 and as above described.

It will thus be seen that, except when actually in use, the cups may atall times be kept in the frames or containers which, besidesconstituting convenient receptacles therefor from which they may bereadily taken as needed and to which they may be readily returned, serveeflectively to protect the same against breakage while being carriedfrom place to place and during the washing, the latter operation beingeffected without removing the cups and withoutplacing themin a specialreceptacle for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wire container for handling fragile articles of irregular formcomprising a frame having upright walls, an open top of symmetricalform, and a bottom disposed above the lower edges of said walls to leavean unobstructed space beneath said bottom and adapted to support saidarticles with approximately one-half of such articles projecting abovesaid top, the upper and lower edges of said walls being relativelyformed to adapt said container to rest upon the walls of a similarcontainer, and said open top being divided into a plurality ofcompartments each of an outline corresponding generally to the outlineof said articles, said compartments being disposed in intermeshingrelationship with respect to each other and in symmetrical. relationshipwith re spect to said container as a whole, said bottom having raisedportions beneath the several compartments for centering the articlestherein, the configuration of the several compartments in. eachcontainer being like those of all other containers, whereby the same maybe stacked in perfect alignment when filled with articles regardless ofwhether the containers be bottom side up.

2. The herein described device for handling fragile articles ofirregular form comprising a frame or container having upright walls, anopen top of symmetrical form, and a bottom disposed above the loweredges of said walls to leave an unobstructed space beneath. the same andadapted to support said articles with portions thereof projecting abovesaid top, the upper and lower edges of said walls being relativelyformed to adapt said container to rest upon the Walls of a similarcontainer, and said open top having substantially its entire areadivided into a plurality of compartments each substantially pear-shapedin outline and corresponding generally to the outline of said articles,said compartments being disposed in intermeshing relationship withrespect to each other and in symmetrical relationship with respect tosaid container as a whole.

3. The herein described device for hanpositioncd top or dling fragilearticles of irregular form comprising a frame or container havinguplower edges of said walls to leave an unobstructed space beneath thesame and adapted to support said articles with portions thereofprojecting above said top, the upper and lower edges of said walls beingrelatively formed to adapt said container to rest upon the walls of asimilar container, and said open top being divided into a plurality ofcompartments each of an outline corresponding generally to the outlineof said articles, said compartments being disposed in interfittedrelationship with respect to each other and in symmetrical relationshipwith respect to said container as a Whole, said bottom having raisedportions beneath the several compartments for centering the articlestherein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MALCOLM H. EATON.

